Major £2 million investment by Police and Crime Commissioner to tackle gangs and violence

The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner says he will
spend an extra £2 million tackling gangs and violence over the next
two years.

The investment, by David Jamieson, is in response to a 201 page
report which he commissioned following an increase in violent crime
in the West Midlands.

The funding will be put in place for a wide range of projects,
including:

A team of expert negotiators will be set up to defuse violence
between gangs and to help individuals escape a life of crime.

A mentoring scheme will be formed to help young people, at risk
of offending, make the right life choices.

A package of support will be put in place to rehabilitate
ex-offenders as they leave prison and re-enter their communities.
The aim is to break the cycle of crime.

A set of programmes will be established designed to provide
alternative activities for young people at risk of school exclusion
and offending.

The Police and Crime Commissioner is already supporting the
Commission's recommendations by introducing Police Cadet Units in
areas affected by gangs and violence; supporting a multi-million
pound programme to help young people, on the brink of criminality,
find training and work; fund an extensive anti-violence programme
in schools and is bringing in a team of experts who will be based
in hospitals to identify young people involved in violence and
divert them away from a life of crime.

This investment by the PCC follows a recent and sustained increase
in gun and knife crime.
The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson,
said: "When gangs and violence strike it plagues our communities
indiscriminately, leaving victims in its wake.

"This comprehensive report has clarified and deepened our
understanding of the causes of these crimes and what circumstances
lead people to turn to violent crime.

"In order to help reverse the current rise I will invest an extra
£2 million from my budget to tackle the causes of violent
crime.

"Whilst investment of this sort is much needed, I am more than
aware that I can't tackle this issue alone. Neither can the police
simply arrest their way out of the situation. That is why I am
delighted the local communities will take a lead on reaching out to
vulnerable and easily led young people who may be about to make the
wrong life choices.

"In years gone by we've made big strides in reducing violence on
our streets, only to see some of those improvements slip away in
recent years. As a society we must treat this issue with the
consistency that we do terrorism or child safeguarding. This means
our response must not cease once the current spike in violent crime
is under control. Lessons from the last fifteen years show us, that
it is once we let up that problems return. We must tackle the
causes of violent crime 365 days a year."

In 2012 the number of gun crime incidents in the West Midlands
stood at 459, but by 2016 that number had risen to 584. At 19
per 100,000 people, the West Midlands has a relatively high
prevalence of gun crime. The England and Wales average is only 9
per 100,000 people. It is important to note that firearms data
includes offences where a firearm has been used as a threat or
blunt instrument. The number of discharges is far smaller. 0.5% of
all gun crimes in 2016 were murders. 3.8% were attempted
murders.

Bishop Derek Webley, Chair of the Gangs and Violence Commission
said: "After what appeared to be a sustained period of calm, a rise
in the number of gang and knife related incidents had altered that
trend in a way that became quite disconcerting.

"On the back of that situation the Police and Crime Commissioner
invited me to chair a commission to address the issue.

"The Report looked closely at the current situation, the causes
and the solutions.

"Tackling this problem isn't easy. There are no quick fixes.

"We know we need all the authorities, various bodies and
communities to work together to solve the problem.

"I am sure that, by drawing on that collective wisdom, we can find
a number of solutions going forward that will make our city and
region a safer place to live, work and socialise."

Knife crime in the West Midlands has also risen in recent years
from a low in 2012. In 2012 there were 1,566 knife crime
incidents. By 2016 that number had risen to 2,296.

The Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, Dave Thompson, has
backed the report: "We will continue to do all it can to get
weapons off our streets and take robust action to protect people
from harm.

"To reduce gun crime and the scourge of gangs it is crucial that
we tackle the root causes too.

"West Midlands Police is fully supportive of this report and will
work closely with the Police and Crime Commissioner, City Council
and other agencies to deliver on its recommendations.

"In particular West Midlands Police will focus on deterrence work
to prevent crime and make our streets safer."

Cllr Tristan Chatfield, Birmingham City Council Cabinet Member for
Community Safety and Equalities, said: "A life of gun crime and
gang activity is a wasted life and how we deal with this issue is
one of the big challenges facing us in Birmingham today.

"I welcome this report from the Police and Crime
Commissioner.

"We must find lasting solutions and it's clear that no single
agency has all the answers. Our efforts to deliver on the
recommendations of this report must involve communities, schools,
faith groups, councillors, the police and others. Above all, we
must listen to young people and work with them to address the
underlying issues.

"We will focus on delivering jobs and tailored support for young
people to divert them away from crime, especially in the most
deprived areas."

Following the gangs and violence report launch there will be an
Opportunities Fair at Villa Park where young people will be able to
meet employers and trainers to discuss job opportunities and career
development.